Fruit-gatherer



(No Model.)

A. A. POTTERP.

FRUIT GATHEBER.

Patented Dec. 2, 1890.

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ALBERT A. POTTERF, OF OENTREVIETV, MISSOURI.

FRUIT-GATI-HIER'ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 441,971, dated December2, 1890.

Serial No. 355,245. (No model.)

To aZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT A. POTTERF, a citizen of the United States,residing at Centreview, in the county of Johnson and State of Missouri,have invented certain new' and useful Improvements in Fruit-Gatherers;and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference markedthereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to fruit gatherers; and it consists in the novelconstruction and arrangement of parts, as will hereinafter be fullydescribed, and set forth in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this application, Figure lis a perspective view of my improved device. Fig. 2 is a detached planview of my supportingring, showing the cutter or knife. Fig. 3 isasimilar View showing a modified arrangement of the cutter. Fig. 4isacross-scction of such modification. Fig. 5 is a plan view showing themanner of securing the receptacle to the frame.

Like letters of reference denote like parts throughout the drawings.

Into an ordinary handle A of the usual length are inserted the ends 0.of the arms B, which are part of the wire-holder C. These arms B are ofsufficient length to extend some distance dove 11 the handle A for thepurpose of strengthening it, and they are securely attached to the upperend of the saidhan dle by a wire staple Z).

To form the holder 0 a suitable piece of wire of proper length isemployed. First it is bent into the shape of a W to form one outwardlyprojecting loop D and two in- 'wardly-projecting loops 0 and d. From theW-shaped portion to either side the ends of the wire are bent towardeach other at D until they are at a point opposite to an alignment withthe loop D. Then the wire is bent at right angles to form the arms B, asclearly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. Across the loop D near itsouter point is secured a cutter or knife E by flattening the wire of theloop D and making small holes therein, so that the knife may be attachedby small screws, or the knife may be attached in any suitable and mostconvenient manner.

The modification shown in Fig. 3 is similar in every respect to thedevice as shown in the other figures, except that the cutter or knife ismade the shape of the end of the loop D, so as to fitinto the end ofsaid loop, thereby making the point which does the greater amount ofwork and where the greatest strain comes the strongest.

A small groove 6 is made in the wire bythe loop D to accommodate themodified form of cutter, and it is then secured in place by small screwsor rivets.

The inwardly-projecting loops 0 and d serve the purpose of gatheringsmall fruit where a cutter is not necessary, such as cherries, &c. Itwill be found that the loops 0 and at will pull 01? such fruit quite asquickly as a knife will cut it, and thus in constant use save thecutting-edge of the knife to a great extent. Thus both the loop 0 and dand the loop D may be used in one operation and a double amount of fruitgathered.

F denotes a receptacle for fruit, and is made of canvas or othersuitable material, and is stitched or otherwise secured to the holder Bfrom the points f of the W-shaped portion eutirely around to the handleA. It slopes downwardly to a smallerdiameter, (shown at G,) where anenlarged portion or pocket 11 is formed having an opening covered by aflap h for the exit of the gathered fruit. This receptacle may be of anydesired length, but I prefer to make it as shown in the drawings.

At the juncture of the smaller portion G and the head of the pocket aloopI is attached 0t sufiicient diameter to go over the head of a manand hang loosely around his neck.

It will be observed that the fruit after being cut or pulled will fallinto the receptacle F and then down gradually into the pocket H, andthis pocket being suspended by the loop I on the neck of the operator,the fruit is not deposited in places or baskets attached to the deviceor on the ground; but the operator is enabled to go from tree to treewithout the trouble of continually moving baskets or piling up fruit,while at the same time the weight of the fruit is not on the handle, asin many such devices, thus obviating constant breaking thereof.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

In a fruit-gatherer, the holder C, bent to form three gathering-loopsand two arcs of a circle, one of the said gathering-loops being 10grooved and provided with a knife or cutter,

in combination with the fruit-receptacle secured only to the said circleportions so as to prevent the receptacles from interfering with thegathering-loops, substantiallyas specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in I 5 presence of twowitnesses.

ALBERT A. POTTERF. Witnesses:

W. R. DELANY, J. C. OLIVER.

